Television schedule system with pop-up action menu and icons

• US 7,212,249 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Folker, David, Casement, Marcia A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Désir; Jean W.
• Application Number:
  US10/831,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/717, 715/718, 715/719, 715/808, 715/810, 345/902, 348/564, 348/563, 348/565, 348/569, 348/552, 348/460, 348/461, 348/734, 725/39, 725/38, 725/40, 725/43, 725/55, 725/58, 725/52
• US Class Current: 348/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention includes an interactive computer system which provides television schedule information and displays an action pop-up listing actions which can be scheduled. In the preferred embodiment, a memory stores a computer program, image data, and received data. This data includes the television schedule information. A processor uses the computer program to organize the television schedule information into a desired format, display an action pop-up for a chosen program, and schedule an action listed in the pop-up when selected by the user. Icons are listed in various displays indicating actions scheduled for associated programs.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for performing and scheduling actions related to viewing and recording television programs, the method being implemented in a system including a television, a processing system, a television/processing system interface, a viewer input device and an input device/processing system interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a program schedule listing having a plurality of program names and indicating the time and channel that a named program is to be broadcast;

indicating that a particular program has been selected in response to a move cursor command generated by the viewer input device;

displaying an action pop-up menu in response to a first command generated by the viewer input device, the action pop-up menu being overlaid over the program schedule listing and including a listing of different types of scheduling actions relating to the particular program chosen, the listing including one or more actions unrelated to recording a television program, at least one of the scheduling actions being selectable;

indicating that one of the scheduling actions has been selected in response to a move cursor command, which navigates a highlight region to a particular scheduling action, generated by the viewer input device; and

scheduling the action chosen in response to a selection command generated by the viewer input device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of displaying an icon next to each displayed scheduling action to associate the icon with the action.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to record the chosen particular program.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to purchase the chosen particular program.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to automatically tune to the selected particular program when it is received.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of:

displaying a schedule of selected actions as a listing of scheduled actions;

displaying the duration of each scheduled action in the displayed schedule; and

displaying an icon next to each of the scheduled actions to indicate the type of action scheduled.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to record the chosen particular program.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to purchase the chosen particular program.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the displayed icon is a symbol indicating that the scheduled action is to automatically tune to the selected particular program when it is received.

10. A processor-implemented method for performing and scheduling actions related to viewing and recording television programs, with the method implemented in a system including a television, a processing system, a television/processing system interface, a viewer input device and an input device/processing system interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a current program for viewing by a user;

displaying an action pop-up menu in response to a first signal generated by the viewer input device, the pop-up menu including a plurality of different actions, each relating to the current program being viewed, at least one of the actions being selectable in response to a selection signal generated by the viewer input device, one or more of the actions being unrelated to recording a television program;

indicating that one of the plurality of actions has been chosen in response to a move cursor signal, which navigates a highlight region to a particular action, generated by the viewer input device; and

scheduling the action chosen for the current program in response to the selection signal generated by the viewer input device,

wherein both the first signal and the selection signal are generated through actuation of a single key on the viewer input device.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, and further comprising the step of displaying an icon next to each action scheduled to associate the icon with the action.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to record the chosen particular program.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to purchase the chosen particular program.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to automatically tune to the chosen particular program when it is received.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, and further comprising the steps of:

displaying a schedule of selected program events listing each scheduled event;

displaying the duration of each event in the displayed schedule; and

displaying an icon next to each event indicating the type of action scheduled.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to record the chosen particular program.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to purchase the chosen particular program.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the icon is a symbol indicating that the action scheduled is to automatically tune to the chosen particular program when it is received.

19. A device including a computer readable medium having a stored computer readable code embodied thereon for scheduling actions related to viewing and a recording television programs in a system including a television, a processing system, a television/processing system interface, a viewer input device and an input device/processing system interface, the scheduling device comprising:

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display a program schedule listing showing a plurality of program names and indicating the time and channel that a named program will be received;

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to indicate that a particular program has been chosen in response to a move cursor command generated by a viewer input device;

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display an action pop-up menu having a plurality of selectable scheduling actions relating the particular program chosen, in response to a first command generated by the viewer input device, one or more of the actions being unrelated to recording the television program;

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to indicate that one of the scheduling actions has been chosen in response to a mover cursor command generated by the viewer input device;

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to schedule the action chosen in response to a selection command, which navigates a highlight region to a particular scheduling action, generated by the viewer input device; and

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display an icon adjacent to the scheduled action indicating that the action has been scheduled whenever an action pop-up menu is displayed for the particular program chosen.

20. A scheduling device as recited in claim 19 wherein the computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display an action pop-up menu further causes the computer to overlay the action pop-up menu over the displayed program schedule listing.

21. A scheduling device including a computer readable medium having stored a computer readable code embodied thereon for causing scheduling actions related to viewing and recording televisions programs to be performed in a system including a television, a processing system, a television/processing system interface, a viewer input device and an input device/processing system interface, with the television displaying a current program being viewed by a viewer, the scheduling device comprising:

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display an action pop-up menu having a plurality of selectable scheduling actions relating the current program being viewed, in response to a first signal generated by the viewer input device, one or more of the actions being unrelated to recording the television program;

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to indicate that one of the selectable actions has been chosen in response to a mover cursor signal generated by the viewer input device; and

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to schedule the action chosen for the current program being viewed in response to a selection signal, which navigates a highlight region to a particular action, generated by the viewer input device; and

a computer readable program code device configured to cause a computer to display an icon next to the scheduled action indicating that the action has been scheduled whenever an action pop-up menu is displayed for the particular program chosen.

22. A scheduling device as recited in claim 21 wherein the first signal and the selection signal are the same signal.

23. A television schedule system providing actionable television schedule information comprising:

a viewer input device for generating a plurality input commands, the viewer input device including a plurality of keys for generating a move cursor input command and a hypermode key capable of generating an action pop-up input command and a selection input command;

an input device processor for receiving the input commands;

a memory for storing a computer program and information related to generating a scheduling grid for displaying television program information, including the time and channel of each displayed program broadcast;

a display device including a display processor interface;

a processor in electronic communication with the input device processor interface, the memory and the display, the processor being configured to;

generate a program scheduling grid on the display, the generated scheduling grid showing program names at grid locations and indicating the time and channel that a named program will be received;

indicate on the scheduling grid that a particular program has been chosen in response to a move cursor input command generated by the viewer input device;

display an action pop-up menu in response to an action pop-up input command generated by the viewer input device, the action pop-up menu being overlaid over the displayed scheduling grid and including a plurality of selectable scheduling actions relating the particular program chosen, each of the scheduling actions being directly actionable in response to a selection input command, one or more of the actions being unrelated to recording the television program;

indicate that one of the plurality of selectable actions has been chosen in response to a move cursor input command, which navigates a highlight region to a particular action, generated by the viewer input device; and

schedule the action chosen in response to a selection input command generated by the viewer input device.

24. A television schedule system as recited in claim 23 wherein the hypermode key on the viewer input device is further capable of selectively generating a tuning function input command when the hypermode key is briefly pressed and generating the action pop-up input command when the hypermode key is actuated for a predetermined time interval.

25. A television control system comprising:

a viewer input device for generating a plurality input device signals, the viewer input device including a plurality of move cursor keys for generating a move cursor input command and a select key capable of generating both an action pop-up input command and a selection input command;

an input device processor interface for receiving said input commands;

a memory for storing a computer program;

a display for displaying a television program being currently viewed by a viewer;

a display processor interface;

a processor electrically coupled to the memory, the input device and display processor interfaces and the display, the processor for executing the computer program to schedule events, the processor being configured to;

display an action pop-up menu in response to an action pop-up input command generated by the viewer input device, the action pop-up menu having a plurality of selectable scheduling actions relating the program being currently viewed, each of the selectable scheduling actions being directly actionable in response to a selection input command, one or more of the actions being unrelated to recording the television program;

indicate that one of the plurality of selectable actions has been selected for the current program in response to a move cursor input command, which navigates a highlight region to a particular action, generated by the viewer input device; and

execute the action chosen for the current program in response to a selection input command generated by the viewer input device both the selection input command and the pop-up input command being generated in response to actuation of the select key.

26. A television schedule system as recited in claim 25 wherein the select key further generates a first input command when briefly actuated and generates a second input command when actuated for a predetermined time interval, the second input command being one of the select input command and the action pop-up input command.

27. A television schedule system as recited in claim 25 wherein the viewer input device additionally includes a favorite channel key, the action pop-up menu additionally displays a favorite channel action, and the processor is additionally configured to mark as a favorite channel the channel of the current program when the favorite channel is chosen and to display a marked favorite channel in response to actuation of the favorite channel key.

28. A television schedule system as recited in claim 25 wherein programming has been locked to prevent unauthorized viewing, the action pop-up menu additionally displays an unlock action, and the processor is additionally configured to unlock the locked programming when the unlock action is chosen.